![emerson lake & palmer [import]](http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00005AFLV.01.TZZZZZZZ.jpg)
| 1. The Barbarian |
| 2. Take A Peeble |
| 3. Knife - Edge |
| 4. The Three Fates Clotho Lachesis Atropos |
| 5. Tank |
| 6. Lucky Man |
Editorial Reviews
Product Description
Remastered reissue of the progressive rock supergroup's 1970 debut album.
On 2 CDs crammed with nearly 160 minutes of music!
The fully remastered 28-song set, compiled with ELP's participation, brings together their biggest hits, including "Lucky Man," "From The Beginning," "Karn Evil 9: 1st Impression - Part 2" and "I Believe In Father Christmas," as well as other must-have recordings drawn from all of the albums they released in their '70s heyday--their self-titled debut (1970), Tarkus (1971), Trilogy (1972), Pictures At An Exhibition (1972), Brain Salad Surgery (1973), Welcome Back My Friends To The Show That Never Ends (1974), Works, Vol. 1 & Works, Vol. 2 (both 1977), Love Beach (1978) and Emerson Lake & Palmer In Concert (aka Works Live) (1979)--and the reunion album Black Moon (1992).
Comes with a fully-illustrated booklet containing color photos, detailed liner notes and complete track info.
1. the soft Country-folk side with "Lucky Man", "From the Beginning", "Still... You Turn Me On" and "C'est La Vie".
2. the dynamic Western side with "Jeremy Bender", "Hoedown" and "The Sheriff".
3. The most progressive side with the long tracks "Tarkus", "Take a Pebble", "Trilogy", "Toccata" or "Black Moon"
4. The Classic covers like "Peter Gun", "Nutrocker", "Fanfare For The Common Man" or "Hoedown"
5. The absence of the great experimental track "Infinite Space", and "Karn Evil 9" Third Impression that is better than the first part.
6. Maybe some diferences in vocal lines like "Jerusalem", but a curious object of collection.
7. The commercial side with "Knife Edge", "I Believe In Father Christmas" or "Paper blood"...
And with a great remastered recording, this anthology maybe is the most complete and representative anthology of the band!... so Good Luck!
Rockerusa2002 (Thank you) should be credited for setting the record straight about the ELP remasters shifting from label to label isn't about greed. If people are aware of the history of the group they are totally understanding of the endless pursuit Keith, Greg, and Carl had for the perfect sound in the studio and live environments. One of many examples was Emerson's displeasure with the inability to recreate the studio sound of "Abaddon's Bolero" on the Trilogy tour.
The debut record from ELP was a stunning achievement. From the opening notes of the "Barbarian" sending shockwave's through your system to the final verse of "Lucky Man" it is one of the finest initial recordings from any band.
Could Emerson equal or surpass the ground breaking sounds of the Nice? Would Carl Palmer be able to excel the same way as he did on the first Atomic Rooster LP? Could Greg Lake justify leaving King Crimson?
The musical diversity and brilliance of the six tracks answered every question with a resounding "YES." "The Barbarian" with the down and dirty sound reaches for your lungs and places an everlasting choke hold.
"Take A Pebble" is one of the finest vocals every witnessed. Lake's voice is in perfect harmony with Emerson's piano. The lyrics are majestic and the composition brings all things to an immediate stop. Your ears fixated on the wizardry never believing what they have heard but ready for a second listen the moment the masterpiece ceases.
"Knife-Edge" brings to the forefront Greg's bass with intense musical direction. Numerous live tours would see this in the set list for obvious reasons.
"The Three Fates/Lachesis/Atropos" Emerson's piano style of mixing classical style compositions with progressive rocks freedom of expression has kept a legion of fans salivating on every note.
"Tank" lets Carl do his thing but that doesn't mean the band is taking a rest. Listen to the well constructed musical passes that only enhance Carl's ability to be complex and tasty. Many drummers know their theory but leave you as bored as a rainy summer day. Palmer can be adventurous in a ballad or a rocker.
"Lucky Man" would give ELP entry into the singles charts and become one of the most recognizable tunes from its era. Don't sweep this under the "Commercial Rug." The acoustic guitar that Lake beautifies each time out resonates with brilliance and the words are some of the best ever penned.
Any ELP fan would agree from the first release through Brain Salad Surgery you couldn't go wrong. Many will add Works 1 and Works 2 (They should) in their collections as well. If you use this album as a starting point, you'll love the journey in the proper sequences. If you decide to skip around that's fine too. Either way the legacy will be there for the listening.
Enjoy the music and be well,
Craig Fenton
Author of the Jefferson Airplane book "Take Me To A Circus Tent"
I can't think of another catalog that has been "remastered" more times than ELP's. Every few years since the early 90's, as ELP caravanned their catalog from label to label, we were presented with another set of supposedly superior mastered versions, and were expected to dutifully re-purchase them.
When you include the MFSL and Japanese dual-K2 efforts, where are we at now, at least seven different remasters of just the individual studio albums over the past 15 years? And how many "remastered" compilations? I've stopped counting, I'm beginning not to care anymore, and I suspect the fab trio and/or their management are now just cash-milking the fans.
Vowing not to be a seven(?)-time, complete-catalog-re-purchase sucker, I bought only the 2007 Tarkus RM and compared it against the 2005 Japanese K2HD mini-sleeve version. I'm staying with the K2HD, and I'm here to tell you: The dichotomy between the two is so non-trivial that I don't need to buy any more Shout! Factory ELP titles for comparison.
There are ELPists that dislike the K2's for "harshness". But, where fingers point at the K2 processing, I have always held the opinion that Are-You-Ready-Eddie Offord was rather level-meter-monitoring-challenged on his ELP and Yes engineering. If you accept that premise, then yes, the K2's do especially emphasize that flaw.
Even if you've heard these recordings hundreds of times, and even if you don't own the K2's, if you carefully listen to any ELP remaster with my Offord postulation in mind, I believe you'll hear what I do.
However, there is certainly additional detail and clarity in both the K2's that I've never heard on either Shout! Factory's Tarkus, or any of the earlier remasters, including the MFSL's. So, once I realized what I was actually hearing, I've dismissed "harshness" for what I believe are distorted passages in the original recordings, greatly amplified in the K2 mastering.
In addition, I found a bit more detail in the K2HD's over the original K2's; it's very VERY slight, and it is there to be heard, but probably only if you have really good gear/interconnects/speakers, or great headphones.
I've also seen original-ELP/K2-owners bad-mouthing the K2HD's, but primarily in eBay ads where they're attempting to jettison their K2's, so consider the source. It's expensive, replacing K2 catalogs (ELP, Kinks, Costello, Creedence, Focus, Rundgren & PFM, to name a few) with K2HD's (especially if you don't know how to pre-order them at the cheapest prices directly from Japan prior to release), but I suck it up and don't complain about it.
So, at least for the ELP catalog, I'm a K2HD guy, and I'm sticking with them. Inevitably, there will be someone with one of the umpteen other remastered versions who will disagree with me, and that's fine, because I'm stating my own opinions and personal preferences, and I welcome the discourse.
Lastly, however, a piece of advice: All Japanese mini-sleeve releases are limited edition, so if you're even tempted to pick up one to compare, don't wait until they're OOP and +$50 on eBay. As of this writing, there are still reasonably-priced ELP K2HD's out there (and even greater deals on the older K2's!).
And I will take those fabulous Japanese original album sleeve replications over their jewel-boxed counterparts any day of the week. It's tré-kewl having an actual album cover collection again, albeit in miniature!
Link to the K2HD version of Emerson Lake & Palmer.
"The Barbarian" is a great keyboard-dominated fast-paced track that sort of resembles Deep Purple. "Take a Pebble" really changes course by featuring soothing vocal melodies and lush keyboards. There's a short boogie jam in the middle. I forgot to mention that the entire album is dominated with keyboard solos. It's not just a few short solos here and there- it's a pretty lengthy and complex listen.
"Knife-Edge" again reminds me of Deep Purple (the two bands must have been friends). The track 4 medley almost sounds like something recorded in the 1800s with its really powerful and old-fashioned sounding keyboard work. "Tank" actually reminds me of a tank rolling over the hills, though I will admit it's probably the only track here where you can tell it's 70's music. "Lucky Man" is just a beautiful and popular song that doesn't really resemble the rest of the album, but managed to make the band known to the public. To me this song remains fresh even after thousands of listens.
Emerson, Lake and Palmer was never able to come up with another album as enjoyable as this one, though honestly they did come close with their next album. Buy this one first, then the second one.
I can't think of another catalog that has been "remastered" more times than ELP's. Every few years since the early 90's, as ELP caravanned their catalog from label to label, we were presented with another set of supposedly superior mastered versions, and were expected to dutifully re-purchase them.
When you include the MFSL and Japanese dual-K2 efforts, where are we at now, at least seven different remasters of just the individual studio albums over the past 15 years? And how many "remastered" compilations? I've stopped counting, I'm beginning not to care anymore, and I suspect the fab trio and/or their management are now just cash-milking the fans.
Vowing not to be a seven(?)-time, complete-catalog-re-purchase sucker, I bought only the 2007 Tarkus RM and compared it against the 2005 Japanese K2HD mini-sleeve version. I'm staying with the K2HD, and I'm here to tell you: The dichotomy between the two is so non-trivial that I don't need to buy any more Shout! Factory ELP titles for comparison.
There are ELPists that dislike the K2's for "harshness". But, where fingers point at the K2 processing, I have always held the opinion that Are-You-Ready-Eddie Offord was rather level-meter-monitoring-challenged on his ELP and Yes engineering. If you accept that premise, then yes, the K2's do especially emphasize that flaw.
Even if you've heard these recordings hundreds of times, and even if you don't own the K2's, if you carefully listen to any ELP remaster with my Offord postulation in mind, I believe you'll hear what I do.
However, there is certainly additional detail and clarity in both the K2's that I've never heard on either Shout! Factory's Tarkus, or any of the earlier remasters, including the MFSL's. So, once I realized what I was actually hearing, I've dismissed "harshness" for what I believe are distorted passages in the original recordings, greatly amplified in the K2 mastering.
In addition, I found a bit more detail in the K2HD's over the original K2's; it's very VERY slight, and it is there to be heard, but probably only if you have really good gear/interconnects/speakers, or great headphones.
I've also seen original-ELP/K2-owners bad-mouthing the K2HD's, but primarily in eBay ads where they're attempting to jettison their K2's, so consider the source. It's expensive, replacing K2 catalogs (ELP, Kinks, Costello, Creedence, Focus, Rundgren & PFM, to name a few) with K2HD's (especially if you don't know how to pre-order them at the cheapest prices directly from Japan prior to release), but I suck it up and don't complain about it.
So, at least for the ELP catalog, I'm a K2HD guy, and I'm sticking with them. Inevitably, there will be someone with one of the umpteen other remastered versions who will disagree with me, and that's fine, because I'm stating my own opinions and personal preferences, and I welcome the discourse.
Lastly, however, a piece of advice: All Japanese mini-sleeve releases are limited edition, so if you're even tempted to pick up one to compare, don't wait until they're OOP and +$50 on eBay. As of this writing, there are still reasonably-priced ELP K2HD's out there (and even greater deals on the older K2's!).
And I will take those fabulous Japanese original album sleeve replications over their jewel-boxed counterparts any day of the week. It's tré-kewl having an actual album cover collection again, albeit in miniature!
Link to the K2HD version of Tarkus.
The first half of the album is one GIANT medley of keyboards. It's really surprising to me how, even before I got into lengthy prog pieces and jams, I was STILL able to enjoy this song. It's because the band knows how to make their jams melodic and interesting. That was something they did very well back in the day.
It's a shame most people ignore the shorter songs on the second side of the album. There's some good stuff there, and entirely worth hearing if you're a fan of the band.
Sound: There's no substantial sound improvement over the original Atlantic release, and though I can't be certain, I believe that this series uses the same remasters that came out on Leadclass / Rhino in the 90s.
Manufacture: Annoyingly, the Emerson Concerto is now burned as a single track, so you can no longer play the three movements separately (unlike on the original Atlantic issue). Worse yet, a glitch noticeable on headphones, also one not on the original version, now appears at the start of Nobody Loves You. Finally, the bonus tracks are good performances but of seriously bootleg quality. They're from the same 1978 US tour concerts as the live tracks on the Works 2 reissue but are much muddier sounding and offer nothing new musically except for a brief bluesy intro to Nutrocker.
Package: As in the rest of the Sanctuary series, the booklet has great pix and informative liner notes, but it no longer offers Peter Sinfield's lyrics or any musician credits at all, hence it's still maddeningly unclear who plays what. In a nutshell, don't buy this version if you already have an earlier release; it's great music in an inferior presentation.
Keith Emerson begins the self-aggrandizement on Disc 1 with his "Piano Concert No. 1," in three movements (I still do not know what Andante Molto Cantabile means, but I suspect I am not along in that regard). Since I have always preferred Emerson on piano rather than synthesizer/organ, I am inclined to like this solo jaunt into the classical realm. The third movement (Toccato con Fuoco) is the best, so there is a strong finish to the entire thing. I should also note that I have been waiting for "Piano Concert No. 2," but to date, no luck in that regard.
Since I have always wanted to have Greg Lake's voice in my rock and roll fantasies, I am gratified that his set of tracks are songs that feature his voice rather than musical pyrotechnics (granted, there are not a lot of opportunities for bass players to display their virtuosity with their instrument, although Chris Squires had some moments with Yes). These are orchestrated songs, rather than the acoustic approach inherent in his two hit singles "Lucky Man" and "Still You Turn Me On," and I think that Lake's vocals on "Lend Me Your Love Tonight," "C'Est Las Vie" and "Closer to Believing" are as fine as anything he has ever recorded, even though the lyrics are pretty inane.
Certainly the Carl Palmer tracks on the first half of Disc 2 feature his drumming skills more so than any previous ELP efforts, ranging from Bach's "Two Part Invention in D Minor" to the driving "The Enemy God Dances with the Black Spirits" to a remake of "Tank" that best represents the strong jazz influence on several of these tracks. Come to think of it, I do not know if I have really heard a drummer being featured like this since the glory days of Buddy Rich.
The two tracks that comprise the ELP section of the collection are a perfect combination of their best effort at presenting their own version of a classical work, in this case Aaron Copeland's "Fanfare for the Common Man," and what may well be their best "suite," the 13-minute "Pirates." Of their earlier attempts at such grandeur, "Pirates" is more reminiscent of "Karn Evil 9" than "Tarkus" or "Trilogy," and has what certainly seems to me to be a strong Copeland influence, which extends beyond the use of a symphonic orchestra. I find the track somewhat amazing simply because who else would ever think about writing something like this first person narrative about being a pirate? It is a very unique piece of work from ELP.
"Works, Volume 1" made it to #12 on the Billboard Pop Charts, which is not bad for something that is both indulgent and a double-album. Final note: "Works, Volume 2" is really just a collection of leftovers and not a continuation of the high standards set in Volume 1, although it does contain their classic holiday single, "I Believe in Father Christmas," which is sufficient justification to add it to your collection.
The lineup on this 1972 album includes virtuoso keyboardist Keith Emerson (piano, Hammond organ, and moog synthesizer); Carl Palmer on drums; and Greg Lake (bass, vocals, acoustic guitar). The performances are, as you might expect, completely unbelievable. Keith's playing is especially muscular - he really rips on this live album and his work on the Hammond organ and moog synthesizer is truly stunning. Of course, I also like the "churchy" tone that he gets on the Hammond too. Carl Palmer also turns in some of his finest drumming.
The music on this album is very, very energetic and goes completely over the top sometimes but that is what I love about this album. Besides, it is a lot of fun to hear Mussorgsky "rocked up" in a way that he could not possibly have imagined. Keith's overdriven and screeching feedback on the organ is especially effective and there are some ear-splitting moments on the moog that are very...electric. Of course, at the other end of the spectrum is Greg's nice ballad The Sage, which provides some relief from the thunderous, electric maelstrom. Although I really enjoy this album (especially the ELP original pieces), my least favorite track is the Nutrocker (the Tchaikovsky reference notwithstanding), which continues in the tradition of ELP's "silly" songs.
Regardless, I consider this a fantastic ELP album and feel that it would make an excellent addition to the prog collection. Highly recommended along with the 1970 eponymous debut; Tarkus (1971); Trilogy (1972); and Brain Salad Surgery (1973).
Well, Greg Lake adds some light philosophical/trippy-dippy lyrics to the Modest Mussourgsky masterpiece, and like every piece of excess ELP did early in their career, it works. Keith Emerson traipses through most every tone (jarring or otherwise)he can get from his synth arsenal; if you get the DVD of this, you can even see him make some noise by wanking the synthesizer strip on his crotch. The Hendrix of keyboards indeed! Good ole Jimi actually wanted to join the band after hearing this album, but he soon thereafter passed away. Just think! Hendrix, Emerson, Lake, and Palmer (or HELP, for short). Maybe if he had stuck it through this life, ELP wouldn't've started to suck after their fourth album. We can only dream. Maybe the world is better for not having to witness the ego clashes of Emerson and Hendrix. ("No! You can't start your guitar on fire while I'm stabbing the organ. You get to do that on your song, 'Obsessive-Compulsive Robot' and I get to do the antisocial rock star thing on 'Tarkus.' Got it, Jimi?" "Uh, yeah, Keith, whatever . . ..")
One definitely hears the world-class unit that Hendrix warmed to on this album. It has more raw urgency than anything in their catalog (with perhaps the exception of their other truly excellent live collection, _Welcome Back My Friends . . ._, which is yet to come out on CD). More feedback, more swaggery groove, just more TESTOSTERONE oozing off the analog reels. This doesn't make it better than their three attested studio classics (_ELP_, _Tarkus_, and _Brain Salad_), but it makes it almost as good, and that's saying a whole f of a lot. Probably never again will we hear a power trio blast and extrapolate their way through a neo-baroque classical piece almost in its entirety like we hear ELP do here. This might be for the best, but somehow I think not. I mean, if there was a five-piece band out there with one-fifth of the combined talent, moxy, and balls as ELP has here, the rock world would be turned on its head like it hasn't been for awhile. Oh, yeah, that's right. That band is Mars Volta. Come on, Omar and Cedric, do your acid version of _Rites of Spring_. THEN, and only then, will I mention you in the same breath as ELP.
The only point of this album that is anything less than stellar is the end, not exactly the place to falter, but ELP seemed to have got it in their heads that they needed to end their heavy heavy albums on light notes (e.g. "Are You Ready Eddy" on _Tarkus_). "Nutrocker" is fun, but certainly not as memorable as the rest here. Still, it doesn't mar the album much, placing this a slight tier beneath ELP's best studio albums.
A best of is always not complete, but this one has almost everything.
I would have included "Peter Gun" instead of "I believe in Father Christmas" Overall, a very good "best of" !
Good music is simply good music. Tracks like "Karn Evil 9" and "Knife Edge" still sound, for lack of a better word, wicked. Plus, any "greatest hits" package that finds room for a 20-minute blowout like "Tarkus" is simply knickers with me.
I think the best quality of ELP's music is its replayabillity. Although "Lucky Man" is a relatively generic hit, the musical underscore is very creative. I find myself listening to "Pirates" over and over again. "Pirates" is probably my favorite song on the compilation. It is so well composed, Lake's vocals are so brilliant, the melody is perfect, and the solos are truly inspiring. The song is dreamy, it places the listener in another world.
To me "Tarkus" is only alright in comparison to "Pirates." By no means does it make the song bad, just not as good as their other epic. I don't understand people's problem with the song "Black Moon" it is a catchy, but simple beat, with ambigious lyrics that the listener can intrepet for himself. "I Believe in Father Christmas" is another fine, simpler sort of song. It is more commercial than most of their other work, but catchy nonetheless.
Karn Evil 9 is a classic, as is Brain Salad Surgery, Jerusalem, etc. The Great Gates of Kiev is a little bizzare, but enjoyable.
ELP worth listening to just for Emerson's keyboards and synthesizers. Lake's vocals are unique(sound like the original incarnation of King Crimson? Yes they do, because he was in it.)
I recommend this forgotten gem for anyone interested in classic rock.
Remastered reissue of the progressive rock supergroup's 1970 debut album.
Emerson Lake & Palmer,Emerson Lake & Palmer,Phantom Sound & Visi,Rock/Pop
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The Essential Emerson, Lake & Palmer
Lake & Palmer Emerson Manufacturer: Shout Factory ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD  General
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ASIN: B000LPR5AM Release Date: 2007-01-30 |
Tracks:
- The Barbarian
- Take A Pebble
- Knife-Edge
- Tank
- Lucky Man
- Tarkusa) Eruptionb) Stones Of Yearsc) Iconoclastd) Masse) Manticoref)
- Bitches Crystal
- Nutrocker
- From The Beginning
- Hoedown
- Trilogy
Tracks:
- The Endless Enigma, Part One
- Fugue
- The Endless Enigma, Part Two
- Jerusalem
- Toccata
- Still ... You Turn Me On
- Karn Evil 9: 1st Impression - Part 1
- Karn Evil 9: 1st Impression - Part 2
- Jeremy Bender / The Sheriff (medley)
- I Believe In Father Christmas
- C'est La Vie
- Fanfare For The Common Man
- Honky Tonk Train Blues
- Canario
- Peter Gunn
- Black Moon
- Paper Blood
Album Description
A comprehensive, career-spanning collection from one of progressive rock's most popular groups.On 2 CDs crammed with nearly 160 minutes of music!
The fully remastered 28-song set, compiled with ELP's participation, brings together their biggest hits, including "Lucky Man," "From The Beginning," "Karn Evil 9: 1st Impression - Part 2" and "I Believe In Father Christmas," as well as other must-have recordings drawn from all of the albums they released in their '70s heyday--their self-titled debut (1970), Tarkus (1971), Trilogy (1972), Pictures At An Exhibition (1972), Brain Salad Surgery (1973), Welcome Back My Friends To The Show That Never Ends (1974), Works, Vol. 1 & Works, Vol. 2 (both 1977), Love Beach (1978) and Emerson Lake & Palmer In Concert (aka Works Live) (1979)--and the reunion album Black Moon (1992).
Comes with a fully-illustrated booklet containing color photos, detailed liner notes and complete track info.
Customer Reviews:
After Years: The Most Complete Anthology of the Band!..........2007-07-12
1. the soft Country-folk side with "Lucky Man", "From the Beginning", "Still... You Turn Me On" and "C'est La Vie".
2. the dynamic Western side with "Jeremy Bender", "Hoedown" and "The Sheriff".
3. The most progressive side with the long tracks "Tarkus", "Take a Pebble", "Trilogy", "Toccata" or "Black Moon"
4. The Classic covers like "Peter Gun", "Nutrocker", "Fanfare For The Common Man" or "Hoedown"
5. The absence of the great experimental track "Infinite Space", and "Karn Evil 9" Third Impression that is better than the first part.
6. Maybe some diferences in vocal lines like "Jerusalem", but a curious object of collection.
7. The commercial side with "Knife Edge", "I Believe In Father Christmas" or "Paper blood"...
And with a great remastered recording, this anthology maybe is the most complete and representative anthology of the band!... so Good Luck!
A Great Distillation Of ELP's Career.......2007-05-23
out-dated high concept.......2007-05-03
Beware!.......2007-04-14
Is it just me or....?.......2007-04-03
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Emerson, Lake & Palmer
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ASIN: B000NVL9FQ Release Date: 2007-04-24 |
Tracks:
- The Barbarian
- Take A Pebble
- Knife-Edge
- Medley: The Three Fates/Lachesis/Atropos
- Tank
- Lucky Man
Album Description
Debut album Emerson Lake & Palmer marked the beginning of a progressive rock movement that continues to influence countless bands and musicians. On songs like "The Barbarian" and "Knife-Edge," ELP presented classical pieces in a completely new context. And with "Lucky Man," the band had a popular hit that immediately made them a worldwide sensation. Remastered from the original master tapes.Customer Reviews:
This is a "Tank" nothing can get in its way........2007-06-30
Rockerusa2002 (Thank you) should be credited for setting the record straight about the ELP remasters shifting from label to label isn't about greed. If people are aware of the history of the group they are totally understanding of the endless pursuit Keith, Greg, and Carl had for the perfect sound in the studio and live environments. One of many examples was Emerson's displeasure with the inability to recreate the studio sound of "Abaddon's Bolero" on the Trilogy tour.
The debut record from ELP was a stunning achievement. From the opening notes of the "Barbarian" sending shockwave's through your system to the final verse of "Lucky Man" it is one of the finest initial recordings from any band.
Could Emerson equal or surpass the ground breaking sounds of the Nice? Would Carl Palmer be able to excel the same way as he did on the first Atomic Rooster LP? Could Greg Lake justify leaving King Crimson?
The musical diversity and brilliance of the six tracks answered every question with a resounding "YES." "The Barbarian" with the down and dirty sound reaches for your lungs and places an everlasting choke hold.
"Take A Pebble" is one of the finest vocals every witnessed. Lake's voice is in perfect harmony with Emerson's piano. The lyrics are majestic and the composition brings all things to an immediate stop. Your ears fixated on the wizardry never believing what they have heard but ready for a second listen the moment the masterpiece ceases.
"Knife-Edge" brings to the forefront Greg's bass with intense musical direction. Numerous live tours would see this in the set list for obvious reasons.
"The Three Fates/Lachesis/Atropos" Emerson's piano style of mixing classical style compositions with progressive rocks freedom of expression has kept a legion of fans salivating on every note.
"Tank" lets Carl do his thing but that doesn't mean the band is taking a rest. Listen to the well constructed musical passes that only enhance Carl's ability to be complex and tasty. Many drummers know their theory but leave you as bored as a rainy summer day. Palmer can be adventurous in a ballad or a rocker.
"Lucky Man" would give ELP entry into the singles charts and become one of the most recognizable tunes from its era. Don't sweep this under the "Commercial Rug." The acoustic guitar that Lake beautifies each time out resonates with brilliance and the words are some of the best ever penned.
Any ELP fan would agree from the first release through Brain Salad Surgery you couldn't go wrong. Many will add Works 1 and Works 2 (They should) in their collections as well. If you use this album as a starting point, you'll love the journey in the proper sequences. If you decide to skip around that's fine too. Either way the legacy will be there for the listening.
Enjoy the music and be well,
Craig Fenton
Author of the Jefferson Airplane book "Take Me To A Circus Tent"
Great CD.......2007-05-23
"REMASTERING", AD INFINITUM, AD NAUSEUM, AD WALLET.......2007-05-16
I can't think of another catalog that has been "remastered" more times than ELP's. Every few years since the early 90's, as ELP caravanned their catalog from label to label, we were presented with another set of supposedly superior mastered versions, and were expected to dutifully re-purchase them.
When you include the MFSL and Japanese dual-K2 efforts, where are we at now, at least seven different remasters of just the individual studio albums over the past 15 years? And how many "remastered" compilations? I've stopped counting, I'm beginning not to care anymore, and I suspect the fab trio and/or their management are now just cash-milking the fans.
Vowing not to be a seven(?)-time, complete-catalog-re-purchase sucker, I bought only the 2007 Tarkus RM and compared it against the 2005 Japanese K2HD mini-sleeve version. I'm staying with the K2HD, and I'm here to tell you: The dichotomy between the two is so non-trivial that I don't need to buy any more Shout! Factory ELP titles for comparison.
There are ELPists that dislike the K2's for "harshness". But, where fingers point at the K2 processing, I have always held the opinion that Are-You-Ready-Eddie Offord was rather level-meter-monitoring-challenged on his ELP and Yes engineering. If you accept that premise, then yes, the K2's do especially emphasize that flaw.
Even if you've heard these recordings hundreds of times, and even if you don't own the K2's, if you carefully listen to any ELP remaster with my Offord postulation in mind, I believe you'll hear what I do.
However, there is certainly additional detail and clarity in both the K2's that I've never heard on either Shout! Factory's Tarkus, or any of the earlier remasters, including the MFSL's. So, once I realized what I was actually hearing, I've dismissed "harshness" for what I believe are distorted passages in the original recordings, greatly amplified in the K2 mastering.
In addition, I found a bit more detail in the K2HD's over the original K2's; it's very VERY slight, and it is there to be heard, but probably only if you have really good gear/interconnects/speakers, or great headphones.
I've also seen original-ELP/K2-owners bad-mouthing the K2HD's, but primarily in eBay ads where they're attempting to jettison their K2's, so consider the source. It's expensive, replacing K2 catalogs (ELP, Kinks, Costello, Creedence, Focus, Rundgren & PFM, to name a few) with K2HD's (especially if you don't know how to pre-order them at the cheapest prices directly from Japan prior to release), but I suck it up and don't complain about it.
So, at least for the ELP catalog, I'm a K2HD guy, and I'm sticking with them. Inevitably, there will be someone with one of the umpteen other remastered versions who will disagree with me, and that's fine, because I'm stating my own opinions and personal preferences, and I welcome the discourse.
Lastly, however, a piece of advice: All Japanese mini-sleeve releases are limited edition, so if you're even tempted to pick up one to compare, don't wait until they're OOP and +$50 on eBay. As of this writing, there are still reasonably-priced ELP K2HD's out there (and even greater deals on the older K2's!).
And I will take those fabulous Japanese original album sleeve replications over their jewel-boxed counterparts any day of the week. It's tré-kewl having an actual album cover collection again, albeit in miniature!
Link to the K2HD version of Emerson Lake & Palmer.
own this album.......2007-05-02
"The Barbarian" is a great keyboard-dominated fast-paced track that sort of resembles Deep Purple. "Take a Pebble" really changes course by featuring soothing vocal melodies and lush keyboards. There's a short boogie jam in the middle. I forgot to mention that the entire album is dominated with keyboard solos. It's not just a few short solos here and there- it's a pretty lengthy and complex listen.
"Knife-Edge" again reminds me of Deep Purple (the two bands must have been friends). The track 4 medley almost sounds like something recorded in the 1800s with its really powerful and old-fashioned sounding keyboard work. "Tank" actually reminds me of a tank rolling over the hills, though I will admit it's probably the only track here where you can tell it's 70's music. "Lucky Man" is just a beautiful and popular song that doesn't really resemble the rest of the album, but managed to make the band known to the public. To me this song remains fresh even after thousands of listens.
Emerson, Lake and Palmer was never able to come up with another album as enjoyable as this one, though honestly they did come close with their next album. Buy this one first, then the second one.
ELP's Debut Album Finally Gets Remastered Right!.......2007-04-25
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Trilogy
Lake & Palmer Emerson Manufacturer: Shout Factory ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General
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ASIN: B000OPO6VU Release Date: 2007-06-26 |
Tracks:
- The Endless Enigma
- Fugue
- The Endless Enigma
- From The Beginning
- The Sheriff
- Hoedown
- Trilogy
- Living Sin
- Abaddon's Bolero
Customer Reviews:
ELP's Most Accessible Album Remastered Right!.......2007-06-27
Another Great ELP CD.......2007-06-26
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Tarkus
Lake & Palmer Emerson Manufacturer: Shout Factory ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General
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ASIN: B000NVL9KG Release Date: 2007-04-24 |
Tracks:
- Medley: Tarkus - Eruption/Stones Of Years/Iconoclast/Mass/Manticore/Battlefield/Aquatarkus
- Jeremy Bender
- Bitches Crystal
- The Only Way (Hymn)
- Infinite Space (Conclusion)
- A Time And A Place
- Are You Ready Eddy?
Album Description
On the strength of an epic 20-minute opening track, ELP's second album, Tarkus, set the gold standard for progressive rock upon its release in 1971. Though the "Tarkus" medley is the album's centerpiece, it is only one half of a great album that demonstrates what these incredible musicians were capable of. Remastered from the original master tapes.Customer Reviews:
Rhino Re-Masters, SHOUT ,K2HD??.......2007-07-13
"REMASTERING", AD INFINITUM, AD NAUSEUM, AD WALLET.......2007-05-15
I can't think of another catalog that has been "remastered" more times than ELP's. Every few years since the early 90's, as ELP caravanned their catalog from label to label, we were presented with another set of supposedly superior mastered versions, and were expected to dutifully re-purchase them.
When you include the MFSL and Japanese dual-K2 efforts, where are we at now, at least seven different remasters of just the individual studio albums over the past 15 years? And how many "remastered" compilations? I've stopped counting, I'm beginning not to care anymore, and I suspect the fab trio and/or their management are now just cash-milking the fans.
Vowing not to be a seven(?)-time, complete-catalog-re-purchase sucker, I bought only the 2007 Tarkus RM and compared it against the 2005 Japanese K2HD mini-sleeve version. I'm staying with the K2HD, and I'm here to tell you: The dichotomy between the two is so non-trivial that I don't need to buy any more Shout! Factory ELP titles for comparison.
There are ELPists that dislike the K2's for "harshness". But, where fingers point at the K2 processing, I have always held the opinion that Are-You-Ready-Eddie Offord was rather level-meter-monitoring-challenged on his ELP and Yes engineering. If you accept that premise, then yes, the K2's do especially emphasize that flaw.
Even if you've heard these recordings hundreds of times, and even if you don't own the K2's, if you carefully listen to any ELP remaster with my Offord postulation in mind, I believe you'll hear what I do.
However, there is certainly additional detail and clarity in both the K2's that I've never heard on either Shout! Factory's Tarkus, or any of the earlier remasters, including the MFSL's. So, once I realized what I was actually hearing, I've dismissed "harshness" for what I believe are distorted passages in the original recordings, greatly amplified in the K2 mastering.
In addition, I found a bit more detail in the K2HD's over the original K2's; it's very VERY slight, and it is there to be heard, but probably only if you have really good gear/interconnects/speakers, or great headphones.
I've also seen original-ELP/K2-owners bad-mouthing the K2HD's, but primarily in eBay ads where they're attempting to jettison their K2's, so consider the source. It's expensive, replacing K2 catalogs (ELP, Kinks, Costello, Creedence, Focus, Rundgren & PFM, to name a few) with K2HD's (especially if you don't know how to pre-order them at the cheapest prices directly from Japan prior to release), but I suck it up and don't complain about it.
So, at least for the ELP catalog, I'm a K2HD guy, and I'm sticking with them. Inevitably, there will be someone with one of the umpteen other remastered versions who will disagree with me, and that's fine, because I'm stating my own opinions and personal preferences, and I welcome the discourse.
Lastly, however, a piece of advice: All Japanese mini-sleeve releases are limited edition, so if you're even tempted to pick up one to compare, don't wait until they're OOP and +$50 on eBay. As of this writing, there are still reasonably-priced ELP K2HD's out there (and even greater deals on the older K2's!).
And I will take those fabulous Japanese original album sleeve replications over their jewel-boxed counterparts any day of the week. It's tré-kewl having an actual album cover collection again, albeit in miniature!
Link to the K2HD version of Tarkus.
what a great listen.......2007-05-03
The first half of the album is one GIANT medley of keyboards. It's really surprising to me how, even before I got into lengthy prog pieces and jams, I was STILL able to enjoy this song. It's because the band knows how to make their jams melodic and interesting. That was something they did very well back in the day.
It's a shame most people ignore the shorter songs on the second side of the album. There's some good stuff there, and entirely worth hearing if you're a fan of the band.
A Landmark Prog Gem Gets Remastered Right!.......2007-04-26
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Pictures at an Exhibition
Manufacturer: Shout Factory ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General
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ASIN: B000OPO6UQ Release Date: 2007-06-26 |
Tracks:
- Promenade
- The Gnome
- Promenade
- The Sage
- The Old Castle
- Blues Variations
- Promenade
- The Hut Of Baba Yaga
- The Curse Of Baba Yaga
- The Hut Of Baba Yaga
- Medley: The Great Gates Of Kiev/The End
- Nutrocker
Customer Reviews:
Remastered "Pictures" Done Right!.......2007-06-27
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Works, Vol. 1
Lake & Palmer Emerson Manufacturer: Sanctuary ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General
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ASIN: B00064VL1C Release Date: 2004-12-06 |
Tracks:
- Piano Concerto No. 1: First Movement: Allegro Giojoso/Second Movement: - Keith Emerson, Emerson, Lake & Palmer
- Lend Your Love to Me Tonight - Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Greg Lake
- C'est La Vie - Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Greg Lake
- Hallowed Be Thy Name - Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Greg Lake
- Nobody Loves You Like I Do - Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Greg Lake
- Closer to Believing - Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Greg Lake
Tracks:
- Enemy God Dances with the Black Spirits - Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Carl Palmer
- Nights - Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Carl Palmer
- New Orleans - Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Carl Palmer
- Two Part Invention in D Minor - Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Carl Palmer
- Food for Your Soul - Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Carl Palmer
- Tank - Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Carl Palmer
- Fanfare for the Common Man - Emerson, Lake & Palmer
- Pirates - Emerson, Lake & Palmer
- Tank [Live][*] - Emerson, Lake & Palmer
- Enemy God Dances with the Black Spirits [*] - Emerson, Lake & Palmer
- Nutrocker [*] - Emerson, Lake & Palmer
Album Description
UK remastered reissue of the progressive rock supergroup's 1977 album with 3 live bonus tracks 'Tank', 'The Enemy God Dances With The Black Spirits' & 'Nutrocker'. 2001.Customer Reviews:
This album makes you feel bad..........2006-09-30
Details on this reissue here.......2006-02-20
Sound: There's no substantial sound improvement over the original Atlantic release, and though I can't be certain, I believe that this series uses the same remasters that came out on Leadclass / Rhino in the 90s.
Manufacture: Annoyingly, the Emerson Concerto is now burned as a single track, so you can no longer play the three movements separately (unlike on the original Atlantic issue). Worse yet, a glitch noticeable on headphones, also one not on the original version, now appears at the start of Nobody Loves You. Finally, the bonus tracks are good performances but of seriously bootleg quality. They're from the same 1978 US tour concerts as the live tracks on the Works 2 reissue but are much muddier sounding and offer nothing new musically except for a brief bluesy intro to Nutrocker.
Package: As in the rest of the Sanctuary series, the booklet has great pix and informative liner notes, but it no longer offers Peter Sinfield's lyrics or any musician credits at all, hence it's still maddeningly unclear who plays what. In a nutshell, don't buy this version if you already have an earlier release; it's great music in an inferior presentation.
ELP reaches the heights of self-indulgence (and it works).......2005-05-04
Keith Emerson begins the self-aggrandizement on Disc 1 with his "Piano Concert No. 1," in three movements (I still do not know what Andante Molto Cantabile means, but I suspect I am not along in that regard). Since I have always preferred Emerson on piano rather than synthesizer/organ, I am inclined to like this solo jaunt into the classical realm. The third movement (Toccato con Fuoco) is the best, so there is a strong finish to the entire thing. I should also note that I have been waiting for "Piano Concert No. 2," but to date, no luck in that regard.
Since I have always wanted to have Greg Lake's voice in my rock and roll fantasies, I am gratified that his set of tracks are songs that feature his voice rather than musical pyrotechnics (granted, there are not a lot of opportunities for bass players to display their virtuosity with their instrument, although Chris Squires had some moments with Yes). These are orchestrated songs, rather than the acoustic approach inherent in his two hit singles "Lucky Man" and "Still You Turn Me On," and I think that Lake's vocals on "Lend Me Your Love Tonight," "C'Est Las Vie" and "Closer to Believing" are as fine as anything he has ever recorded, even though the lyrics are pretty inane.
Certainly the Carl Palmer tracks on the first half of Disc 2 feature his drumming skills more so than any previous ELP efforts, ranging from Bach's "Two Part Invention in D Minor" to the driving "The Enemy God Dances with the Black Spirits" to a remake of "Tank" that best represents the strong jazz influence on several of these tracks. Come to think of it, I do not know if I have really heard a drummer being featured like this since the glory days of Buddy Rich.
The two tracks that comprise the ELP section of the collection are a perfect combination of their best effort at presenting their own version of a classical work, in this case Aaron Copeland's "Fanfare for the Common Man," and what may well be their best "suite," the 13-minute "Pirates." Of their earlier attempts at such grandeur, "Pirates" is more reminiscent of "Karn Evil 9" than "Tarkus" or "Trilogy," and has what certainly seems to me to be a strong Copeland influence, which extends beyond the use of a symphonic orchestra. I find the track somewhat amazing simply because who else would ever think about writing something like this first person narrative about being a pirate? It is a very unique piece of work from ELP.
"Works, Volume 1" made it to #12 on the Billboard Pop Charts, which is not bad for something that is both indulgent and a double-album. Final note: "Works, Volume 2" is really just a collection of leftovers and not a continuation of the high standards set in Volume 1, although it does contain their classic holiday single, "I Believe in Father Christmas," which is sufficient justification to add it to your collection.
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Welcome Back My Friends to the Show That Never Ends
Lake & Palmer Emerson Manufacturer: Sanctuary ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General
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ASIN: B0002HSE18 Release Date: 2004-09-06 |
Tracks:
- Hoedown
- Jerusalem
- Toccata
- Tarkus: Eruption/Stone of Years/Iconoclast/Mass/Manticore/Battlefield/E
- Take a Pebble/Still...You Turn Me On/Lucky Man
Tracks:
- Piano Improvisations: Fugue/Little Rock Getaway
- Take a Pebble (Conclusion)
- Medley: Jeremy Bender/The Sheriff [Medley]
- Karn Evil 9: 1st Impression/2nd Impression/3rd Impression
Album Description
Full title 'Welcome Back, My Friends, to the Show That Never Ends - Ladies and Gentleman'. UK reissue of 1974 live album, digitally remastered from the original tapes. Two CDs in a slimline double jewel case. 2001 release.Album Details
Digitally Remastered Edition. In the Wake of the Successful Tour Behind their "Brain Salad Surgery" Album, Elp Recorded These Monumental Shows for What was Originally a Triple LP Set, Now a Double CD. Includes Songs from all of their Early Albums.
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Brain Salad Surgery
Lake & Palmer Emerson Manufacturer: Sanctuary ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General
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ASIN: B000IY0G4S Release Date: 2006-11-20 |
Tracks:
- Jerusalem
- Toccata
- Still...You Turn Me On
- Benny the Bouncer
- Karn Evil 9: 1st Impression, Pt. 1
- 1st Impression, Pt. 2
- 2nd Impression
- 3rd Impression
Album Description
Limited Edition reissue of this 1973 album comes packaged in a miniature LP sleeve. In the '70s, ELP were THE Progressive supergroup at the time and their musical flamboyancy was embraced and accepted by Prog fans, Hard Rock fans and anybody with an FM radio nearby. Features plenty of rare bonus tracks including a medley of song excerpts originally only released on flexidisc. If you're looking for an album that defines a musical era, then this is the one. Castle. 2006.Album Details
2006 Digitally Remastered Edtion of the Trio's Debut Release on their Own Manticore Label. This was an Extravagant Concept Album, Regarded as their Most Ambitious Studio Work.Customer Reviews:
Still Wrong.......2007-02-10
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Pictures at an Exhibition
Emerson Lake & Palmer Manufacturer: Rhino / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General
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ASIN: B0000033P1 Release Date: 1996-05-21 |
Tracks:
- Promenade
- The Gnome
- Promenade
- The Sage
- The Old Castle
- Blues Variation
- Promenade
- The Hut Of Baba Yaga
- The Curse Of Baba Yaga
- The Hut Of Baba Yaga
- The Great Gates Of Kiev. The End
- Nutrocker
Customer Reviews:
Let the knives fly and crank up the amps! Mussorsky as you've never heard him........2007-01-31
A wild and thunderous adaptation of Mussorgsky.......2006-09-30
The lineup on this 1972 album includes virtuoso keyboardist Keith Emerson (piano, Hammond organ, and moog synthesizer); Carl Palmer on drums; and Greg Lake (bass, vocals, acoustic guitar). The performances are, as you might expect, completely unbelievable. Keith's playing is especially muscular - he really rips on this live album and his work on the Hammond organ and moog synthesizer is truly stunning. Of course, I also like the "churchy" tone that he gets on the Hammond too. Carl Palmer also turns in some of his finest drumming.
The music on this album is very, very energetic and goes completely over the top sometimes but that is what I love about this album. Besides, it is a lot of fun to hear Mussorgsky "rocked up" in a way that he could not possibly have imagined. Keith's overdriven and screeching feedback on the organ is especially effective and there are some ear-splitting moments on the moog that are very...electric. Of course, at the other end of the spectrum is Greg's nice ballad The Sage, which provides some relief from the thunderous, electric maelstrom. Although I really enjoy this album (especially the ELP original pieces), my least favorite track is the Nutrocker (the Tchaikovsky reference notwithstanding), which continues in the tradition of ELP's "silly" songs.
Regardless, I consider this a fantastic ELP album and feel that it would make an excellent addition to the prog collection. Highly recommended along with the 1970 eponymous debut; Tarkus (1971); Trilogy (1972); and Brain Salad Surgery (1973).
Emerson, Lake, Palmer, and . . . Hendrix? (HELP!).......2006-05-06
Well, Greg Lake adds some light philosophical/trippy-dippy lyrics to the Modest Mussourgsky masterpiece, and like every piece of excess ELP did early in their career, it works. Keith Emerson traipses through most every tone (jarring or otherwise)he can get from his synth arsenal; if you get the DVD of this, you can even see him make some noise by wanking the synthesizer strip on his crotch. The Hendrix of keyboards indeed! Good ole Jimi actually wanted to join the band after hearing this album, but he soon thereafter passed away. Just think! Hendrix, Emerson, Lake, and Palmer (or HELP, for short). Maybe if he had stuck it through this life, ELP wouldn't've started to suck after their fourth album. We can only dream. Maybe the world is better for not having to witness the ego clashes of Emerson and Hendrix. ("No! You can't start your guitar on fire while I'm stabbing the organ. You get to do that on your song, 'Obsessive-Compulsive Robot' and I get to do the antisocial rock star thing on 'Tarkus.' Got it, Jimi?" "Uh, yeah, Keith, whatever . . ..")
One definitely hears the world-class unit that Hendrix warmed to on this album. It has more raw urgency than anything in their catalog (with perhaps the exception of their other truly excellent live collection, _Welcome Back My Friends . . ._, which is yet to come out on CD). More feedback, more swaggery groove, just more TESTOSTERONE oozing off the analog reels. This doesn't make it better than their three attested studio classics (_ELP_, _Tarkus_, and _Brain Salad_), but it makes it almost as good, and that's saying a whole f of a lot. Probably never again will we hear a power trio blast and extrapolate their way through a neo-baroque classical piece almost in its entirety like we hear ELP do here. This might be for the best, but somehow I think not. I mean, if there was a five-piece band out there with one-fifth of the combined talent, moxy, and balls as ELP has here, the rock world would be turned on its head like it hasn't been for awhile. Oh, yeah, that's right. That band is Mars Volta. Come on, Omar and Cedric, do your acid version of _Rites of Spring_. THEN, and only then, will I mention you in the same breath as ELP.
The only point of this album that is anything less than stellar is the end, not exactly the place to falter, but ELP seemed to have got it in their heads that they needed to end their heavy heavy albums on light notes (e.g. "Are You Ready Eddy" on _Tarkus_). "Nutrocker" is fun, but certainly not as memorable as the rest here. Still, it doesn't mar the album much, placing this a slight tier beneath ELP's best studio albums.
The Very Original Version.......2006-03-28
Emerson Lake&Palmer - 'Pictures At An Exhibition' (Rhino).......2005-08-17
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Best Of Emerson Lake And Palmer (Rhino)
Emerson Lake & Palmer Manufacturer: Rhino / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General
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ASIN: B0000033P8 Release Date: 1996-05-21 |
Tracks:
- From The Beginning
- Jersusalem
- Still...You Turn Me On
- Fanfare For The Common Man (Single Version)
- Knife Edge
- Tarkus
- Karn Evil 9 (1st Impression Part 2)
- C'Est La Vie
- Hoedown
- Trilogy
- Honky Tonk Train Blues
- Black Moon (Single Version)
- Lucky Man
- I Believe In Father Christmas (Original Single...)
Amazon.com
Focusing on Greg Lake's overly pretty radio tunes ("Lucky Man," "In the Beginning," etc.), this well-programmed single volume becomes almost definitive by finding room for the only Carl Emerson opus that stands the test of time--the still-powerful 20-minute suite from Tarkus. --Jeff BatemanCustomer Reviews:
Very good choice of tracks.......2007-04-17
A best of is always not complete, but this one has almost everything.
I would have included "Peter Gun" instead of "I believe in Father Christmas" Overall, a very good "best of" !
ELP for President.......2006-11-25
Good music is simply good music. Tracks like "Karn Evil 9" and "Knife Edge" still sound, for lack of a better word, wicked. Plus, any "greatest hits" package that finds room for a 20-minute blowout like "Tarkus" is simply knickers with me.
good, but would have liked more vocals.......2006-08-20
I am 14 years old, and I know good music when I see it.......2006-04-13
I think the best quality of ELP's music is its replayabillity. Although "Lucky Man" is a relatively generic hit, the musical underscore is very creative. I find myself listening to "Pirates" over and over again. "Pirates" is probably my favorite song on the compilation. It is so well composed, Lake's vocals are so brilliant, the melody is perfect, and the solos are truly inspiring. The song is dreamy, it places the listener in another world.
To me "Tarkus" is only alright in comparison to "Pirates." By no means does it make the song bad, just not as good as their other epic. I don't understand people's problem with the song "Black Moon" it is a catchy, but simple beat, with ambigious lyrics that the listener can intrepet for himself. "I Believe in Father Christmas" is another fine, simpler sort of song. It is more commercial than most of their other work, but catchy nonetheless.
Karn Evil 9 is a classic, as is Brain Salad Surgery, Jerusalem, etc. The Great Gates of Kiev is a little bizzare, but enjoyable.
ELP worth listening to just for Emerson's keyboards and synthesizers. Lake's vocals are unique(sound like the original incarnation of King Crimson? Yes they do, because he was in it.)
I recommend this forgotten gem for anyone interested in classic rock.
You want to know what prog rock sounds like?.......2006-03-23
Rock Music:
- Essential Collection [Import]
- Fill the Void
- Friends of Rachel Worth [Import]
- From Gardens Where We Feel Secure
- Fuxa Versus Ectogram [Import]
- Hawkwind [Import]
- Hellish Noise
- Hopeless Case of a Kid in Denial [CD-single] [Enhanced] [Import]
- Hospital Sessions
- Ian Mcnabb [Import]
